The controversial icon of the "Holy Family"
The icon of the "Holy Family" shows the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph, and infant Jesus. The icon has been painted by great icon painters, both in the West as well as in Orthodox, Byzantine iconography and has been verbally attacked by numerous people who consider it "heretical." Those who claim the heretical depiction of the "Holy Family" are based primarily on the "subordination" of Saint Joseph and his contribution,...
The Fasting of Lent
The fasting of Lent, also known as Easter fasting, is one of the few which are validated with rules stemming from the Ecumenical Council since most fasts are held according to the traditions. The fasting of Lent begun in the years of the Apostles to commemorate the fasting of Jesus Christ and the prophets Moses and Elijah. This long period of fasting with specific rules is connected to the...
Cycladic snapshots of the monuments and their people
An excellent exhibition, with the participation of the Ephorate of Antiquities of the Cyclades, institutions of the Church of Greece and material from the Ministry of Culture, and the French School of Athens, eloquently presents the difficult task of saving the monuments of the Cyclades. The exhibition which opened in November of 2018 and ends on February 2019, managed to attract the interest of hundreds of visitors regarding this exceptional...
The "Small Cathedral" of Athens
The very best example of an Athenian dome, a unique masonry of a mid-Byzantine church in Athens built entirely from marble fragments, a true exhibition of sculptures (90 in total) from different historical periods, ancient Greek, Roman, early Christian and Byzantine, make up the “Small Cathedral" of Athens. The small church which is located next to the Athens Cathedral and operates as a chapel, with an octagonal dome, semi-complex cross-in-square...
The ecclesiastical museum of Komotini
The imaret (Turkish word meaning poorhouse or building complex including a mosque) of Komotini, which is of Islamic architecture, is a designated monument, which houses the Ecclesiastical Museum of the Holy Metropolis of Maroneia and Komotini. According to the traditions of the inhabitants of Komotini, there where the imaret was built was located the Byzantine church of Agia Sophia, upon which was integrated the construction of the building. The imaret,...
The footsteps of the Apostle Paul The route in the history of religion
One of the most famous and certainly most important routes regarding its religious and historical importance is the one followed by the Apostle Paul in Greece. Paul, one of the most significant preachers of the Christian religion, a worthy missionary for his preachings and his work, also known as the "Apostle of the Nations", spread Christianity by crossing Greece, having as starting point Samothrace and final destination Corinth. The route...
Omorfoklissia Galatsi - A Byzantine monument in the heart of Athens
Agios Georgios at Galatsi, located on Veikou avenue, also known as Omorfokklisia, dates from the late 12th century and is characterized as cross-in-square, with a chapel on the southern side, probably contemporary with the church, with an octagonal Athenian type dome and bricks circumferentially. The beauty of the church has given it the name Omorfoklissia, which in Greek means beautiful church. The church is distinguished and admired not only for...
One more church-monument worthy of being preserved
Another successful church preservation on the island of Serifos, by the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades. The holy church of Agios Eleftherios at Lempidi, in the capital of Serifos island, is considered a monument and archaeological site of Greece, by Ministerial Decision, already since 1972. The decision concerning the preservation by professional restorers of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Cyclades led to two preservation phases: that of the icons and...
